The Differences Between Padel and Pickleball: A Comparison

Are you looking to try out a new racquet sport but can’t decide between pickleball and padel? Both sports are gaining popularity worldwide, with enthusiasts claiming that their sport is the “future” of racquet sports. But what exactly are the differences between pickleball and padel?

Let’s start with pickleball. This sport, invented in the mid-1960s by three neighbors from Bainbridge Island, is played with solid-faced paddles and plastic balls with holes drilled for aerodynamics. Pickleball is typically played on hard courts, often using one side of a tennis court with chalked-out lines. The sport has gained popularity in the United States and Canada, with growing interest in countries like Australia, China, and parts of Europe.

On the other hand, padel is a racquet sport that can be best described as a mix between tennis and squash. Played within an enclosed court with walls that can be used during play, padel uses similar paddles to Platform Tennis and a decompressed tennis-like ball. The sport originated in 1969 when a Mexican businessman adapted a four-wall enclosed squash court to play a version of Platform Tennis. Padel is most popular in Europe, South America, and Mexico, with investments from the Middle East helping to globalize the sport.

While both sports involve a net, paddles, and balls, they have distinct differences in terms of court size, playing surface, and rules. Pickleball is more similar to miniature tennis, played on a smaller court with a plastic ball, while padel is akin to Platform Tennis, played within an enclosed structure with clear walls.

So, if you’re looking to try a new racquet sport, consider the differences between pickleball and padel to see which one suits your preferences. Whether you prefer the fast-paced action of pickleball or the strategic gameplay of padel, both sports offer unique experiences for players of all skill levels.

To learn more about the disparities between padel and pickleball, check out this article from Forbes. And who knows, you might just discover your new favorite racquet sport!